Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Pradeep Bhandari criticized West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday, accusing her of following in the footsteps of Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, for allegedly speaking against the country.
Bhandari’s Allegations Against INDI Alliance Leaders
Bhandari claimed that leaders of the INDI alliance have a history of speaking negatively about India when abroad. He stated that Rahul Gandhi was known for his critical remarks against the country, and now Mamata Banerjee is allegedly doing the same.
“Leaders of the INDI alliance abuse Bharat whenever they go on foreign soil. Rahul Gandhi has a history of speaking against the country, and now Mamata Banerjee is following in Rahul Gandhi’s footsteps… It’s very clear that the INDI alliance leaders hate the progress of the country and only believe in vote banks in communal politics.”
Bhandari further emphasized that the INDI alliance leaders, according to him, had been repeatedly rejected by the Indian public and would continue to face rejection in the upcoming elections.
“This is why they have continued to be rejected by the people of the country, and they will be rejected, whether in Bengal or in the upcoming 2029. India wants progress, and progress means under PM Modi,” Bhandari added.
Protests at Oxford University
The criticism came after Mamata Banerjee faced protests at Oxford University’s Kellogg College in London. During her visit, a group of protesters questioned her about issues such as the RG Kar College case and post-poll violence in West Bengal.
BJP’s Claims on Protesters
BJP leader Amit Malviya shared a video in which he alleged that the protesters were Bengali Hindus, confronting Banerjee over several serious accusations:
- Rape and murder of a lady doctor at RG Kar
- Crimes against women in Sandeshkhali
- Genocide of Hindus
- Corruption in the state
Malviya also called Banerjee a “disgrace” to West Bengal.
“Just a few posters that were held up to Mamata Banerjee… She is a disgrace to West Bengal. The Hindu Bengali diaspora wants her out as the Chief Minister for destroying Bengal’s legacy and putting them through such ignominy,” Malviya posted on X.
Mamata Banerjee’s Response
During the protest, Banerjee was interrupted multiple times by the audience. One protester raised the issue of Hindus in Bengal, to which Banerjee responded:
“I am for all, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians.”
Despite the protests, Banerjee maintained her calm, addressing one of the protesters as “brother” and advising against engaging in politics during the interaction.
“Please remember this… and don’t do politics. It’s very easy to do politics here and create negative narratives,” Banerjee added.
In a video shared by Trinamool Congress, she was seen confidently addressing the protesters, saying:
“You encourage me, Please smile with a hope that Didi will come every time, Didi don’t get bothered, Didi don’t bother anybody, Didi walks just like a Royal Bengal Tiger and if you can, catch me.”
TMC praised her resilience, referring to her as a “Royal Bengal Tiger” in their social media post.
SFI-UK Takes Responsibility for the Protest
The Students Federation of India (SFI-UK) took responsibility for organizing the demonstration, claiming they wanted to oppose Banerjee’s “blatant lies” regarding social development in West Bengal.
“SFI-UK held a demonstration at Kellogg College, Oxford, against Mamata Banerjee’s speech. We opposed her blatant lies by asking her for evidence of the social development she claims to pioneer. Instead of allowing us to express our opinions peacefully, the police were called… In support of the students and working masses of West Bengal, SFI-UK raised its voice in opposition to Mamata Banerjee and the TMC’s corrupt, undemocratic rule.”